James and his wife, Lynn, live near the intersection of Brown and Kings roads, and he didn't initially like the idea of changing the traditional road design there. But six months of frequent driving near the roundabout have given him a new perspective.

"When I heard that it was coming, I called the local talk radio show to complain; I didn't think we needed it, and I thought it was going to be a waste of taxpayer money," James said.

"But I like it," James said. "My only complaint is that the sidewalk on one side is a bit too high."

Response to Anderson County's first roundabouts — the other opened this past spring at the convergence of Harris Bridge, Concord and Cathey roads — has been generally positive since drivers began using them.

That's good news for the state Department of Transportation, which has another three planned in the county over the next two years, and two more under consideration.

It's all part of an effort to improve safety at some of Anderson County's more crash-prone intersections, since DOT engineers say roundabouts reduce accidents and keep traffic moving.

The road ahead

Next on the list is a $2 million roundabout, currently in the design stage, at the intersection of West Market, Southwood and Monroe streets. A $1.7 million roundabout is planned at the State 187 and Whitehall Road intersection, where an X-shaped convergence is especially unwieldy for large trucks. The project will also widen turn lanes.

Right-of-way acquisition is in progress for both intersections, and construction on both is slated to begin in 2020. They are expected to be ready by mid-2021.

Also scheduled for construction in 2020 is the Cherokee Road bridge replacement over U.S. 29 North, a project that will include a roundabout where Cherokee Road meets Joe Black Road.

Two other roundabouts are being considered on Midway Road — one at the intersection of Harriett Circle, and another near AnMed Health Center's North Campus, where congestion near Midway School is typical on school days.

Those two projects are being reviewed by the Anderson Area Transportation Study, DOT project manager Tyke Redfearn said.

Learning curve

While some drivers said the first roundabouts took some getting used to, they also appreciated the end result.

"The traffic goes a lot more smoothly than I thought it would," Lynn James said of the Brown and Kings roads roundabout.

Carolyn Smith said she was "a little antsy" on her first few trips through the same roundabout, "but I think in the long run, it will work out good. We don't have the traffic backup we used to have, especially right after church on Sunday."

While traffic flow has improved, some drivers still seem confused on how the roundabout works, Don Jameson noted. "I nearly got hit by a driver who didn't seem to know that he had to yield," Jameson said.

The Brown/Kings roundabout, which cost $2.25 million, is the smaller of the two roundabouts. The larger one, at Harris Bridge/Concord roads, cost $2.3 million.

Several residents said the Harris Bridge/Concord roundabout has noticeably improved traffic flow at that intersection and made it safer. Drivers entering from Cathey Road previously faced a blind curve.

"It was a dangerous intersection, but when I first heard about (the roundabout plan), I wasn't sure," said Susan Aiken, who lives in the area. "But I think it's a great thing. I use it quite a bit now."

Other improvements

Besides the roundabouts, DOT is also planning improvements at other Anderson County trouble spots. The agency's 2021 plans include an $890,000 upgrade to the intersection of Midway Road and Crestview. That project is in the design phase, and the bulk of the funding will not be available until 2022.

Also on the list is the busy South Main-Shockley Ferry Road intersection, where a $1.5 million project is scheduled in 2020-21.

And south of downtown Anderson, another design improvement has been approved at the intersection of Whitehall and Sullivan roads. That $1.3 million project is expected to improve safety near the Centerville Fire Station and Centerville Elementary.